Author examines Trump's deferential behavior toward Putin, citing ideological alignment, strongman admiration, and potential blackmail
Guardian contributor Luke Harding explores multiple theories for Trump's deference to the Russian president, including MAGA ideological sympathy with Russian conservatism, Trump's preference for autocrats, and the possibility of compromising material collected by Russian intelligence.
What happened
Luke Harding, author of "Betrayal: Trump, Putin and the New Age of Conquest," published an analysis in the Guardian examining Trump's submissive conduct toward Putin during their Alaska summit meeting last year, where Trump met him at the airport and allowed Putin to speak first at their joint press conference. Harding identifies three overlapping explanations: ideological alignment (MAGA supporters view Russia as an "anti-woke" conservative state; Tucker Carlson has praised Moscow); strongman envy (Trump admires Putin's freedom of action and prefers autocrats to European democrats); and kompromat (potential compromising material collected by Russian intelligence during Trump's visits to Moscow in 1987, 2013, and other occasions). A 2020 US Senate Intelligence Committee report alleged that the FSB has secret cameras inside the Ritz-Carlton hotel where Trump stayed in 2013.
Context
Trump's relationship with Putin is described as the biggest unresolved mystery in international politics. Harding notes that since 2025 Trump has stopped direct US military aid to Kyiv, humiliated Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and repeated Kremlin lies and disinformation. Harding reports that Trump refuses to send Patriot interceptors to Ukraine or allow Kyiv to develop its own version under licence. These actions have consequences for Ukrainian civilians, who face nightly bombardment with kamikaze drones and ballistic missiles. The question of whether Trump functions as a Russian asset or agent of influence carries weight because his Russia-friendly actions directly affect Ukraine's ability to defend itself, regardless of Trump's underlying motivation or status.
What's disputed
Trump's precise motivations and whether he qualifies as a Russian asset or agent of influence remain unconfirmed. Harding states the terminology may not matter given his actions, but the specific nature and content of any compromising material allegedly collected by Russian intelligence during Trump's visits to Moscow remains unknown and unverified. Trump denies links with Russia.